Comfort for Dying Old Cockatiel

[Jaybay]

Petey, my 22 year and 5-month old cockatiel is dying.  It started over two months ago when he go sick.  He looked like the wild birds I've seen with West Nile virus.  Just when we were certain it was the end, Petey rallied but hasn't been the same since.  He's had loose stools off and on and has lost a lot of weight.  I've used moulting and conditioning vitamins as a supplement for several years, but it's not making any difference now obviously.  He does eat his regular seed, but not as much, and has trouble with his old favorite sunflower seeds.  A spray of fresh millet gets the biggest reaction out of him these days.  

He sleeps most of the time, keeps his feathers puffed up like he's cold, and seems to need his wings for balance more often than not.  There's certainly a loss of coordination.   Petey never would use a Happy Hut, so I have a small towel on the bottom of one corner of his cage that he likes to snug with.  Better than nothing.  During the worst of his illness, he wanted nothing to do with us.  In the past few days, he wants nothing more than to sit under my chin and sleep.

I want to do right by my little companion, so any hints you can offer for comfort measures will be greatly appreciated.  Petey was the first companion "child" that my husband I had. Life will be so strange without him, but I'm grateful for all the years we've had with.  He's never had one single health problem in all this time, so it's difficult to see him like this.  All I can think of is to keep him as warm and comfortable as possible until he's gone.  :-(

[starybright]

I'm so sorry to hear about Petey. I have owned birds for over 35 yrs.  Birds will hide that they aren't feeling well. so when you start to notice that your bird is not eating and starting to sleep more and their feathers are puffed up and they start having loose droppings they need to see a vet yesterday.. keep him or her warm by putting a heat lamp on top of the cage.  To keep him or her warm on the way to the vet try putting hand warmers on the bottom of the box or carrier then cover with a towel. make sure that the towel does not become hot,  if it does add another towel, it should be warm to the touch. cover the box or carrier with a blanket and go.

[Katsquest66]

I have had mine for 34 almost 35 years when do we know it's their time, as my baby just seems old at this point, but I did take him to the vet in his 20s with a cold and they saved him, he is now 34 and he's really old, having old man issues,

[marypar]

Regarding my message on June 7 to Elyzsmom, my 28 yr old cockateil who has had some strokes over five years ago, blind in one eye, and loses her balance, I purchased the sun deck platforms from fosters smith and put them in the midde of the cage so she can walk elevated and not fall off her perch.  They are great, in and outside the cage, and very inexpensive.  If the link doesn't work, the website is foster smith and search under bird accessories.  

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+11295+8367&pcatid=8367

[Katsquest66]

Thank you as I have so many walkways for my bird so he doesn't have to climb to much..my old man

[jacobgl]

my 'tiel paulie just passed away peacefully tonight after becoming very puffed up and tired looking. i'm not sure how old he was as we found him 10 years ago and couldnt find an owner. he was always a singing, chirpy little guy and was always the best cheering up i could ever have when i was down. i played him peaceful music that he would always sing along too as he put his head down and left us. i never thought i'd be so attatched to such a little bundle of fluff, though im glad i got to spend his last moments by his side. Rest peacfully my paulie bird, heart goes out to everyone else that has lost a little bird friend x

[tielbob]

So sorry about your loss of Paulie - I am sure he was comforted by being with the one he loved in his last moments. RIP little Paulie.

[Katsquest66]

Rip little birdie love

[PiaTheBirdLady]

Sadly as I sit here crying and read all of your heartbreaking stories, my 32 year old grey cockatiel Toto, is dying. I believe he has congested heart failure and after his usual shower and blow dry (which he loved and "asked" for on a weekly basis) he reacted much differently. He could barely move, his heart beat sounded like a train going 100 mph and he was struggling to breath. He hasn't eaten or drank anything for over 26 hours and we feel it's just a matter of hours.
I have a heat lamp on him and his cage is draped with his favorite hand towels. I tried an aye dropper with water but even just a 1/2 drop near his beak caused him to cough and stress out. I was in my 20's when we got him as a companion to my other cockatiel (who passed at 25, 9 years ago) and I am now in my 60's. Toto is 7 years older then my son! I know most of you can relate.

What a long, fun road this life has been with my "boys" in it. I am forever grateful for their love and the joy they brought us. They both had a great life and I could never stress this old man out by bringing him to a vet now...after I lost my "first hatched" son, alone at the Vet's, I want Toto to die with us, at home.

I am so sad and we haven't stopped crying the whole day, but I can only pray he is comfortable and knows he is loved. I plan on preserving him as I did his brother Cleo, and our family knows that when my husband and I die, Cleo gets buried with me, and Toto gones in with my husband. Call me crazy, but this is how dear they are to us and how strong the bonds are between us.

Praying for all you out there who have lost your beloved feathered friends, and praying that my boy goes peacefully in my arms.

[Byebyebaby]

Pia, I know this was several months ago but I still choked up reading your story.  I posted here almost two years ago as Byebye.  I know how much it hurts and I'll pray your pain has somehow become less painful.

[Katsquest66]

I'm so sorry, mine is also getting old, my vet saved mine from that when he was in his 20s he is now 34  mine is not sick, he is old, and just getting things, I know he doesn't have a long time left,,I really came on here hoping someone knew about how in their last days we can keep them comfy or do we put them down?  Going to call the vet..making me cry, I'm so sorry about your baby I know how amazing they are

[Sharonea]

I completely understand, my 25 year cockatiel is in the process of dying, and I have shed many tears already.  I was looking to see if there was anything I could do to make her more comfortable,  I know taking her to the vet will just speed things up, and put her under undue stree, but I was hoping there was something I could do to ease her.  Dying is not easy for anyone or thing.

[Katsquest66]

Did you find anything out because mine is at that point, when he was in his 20s the vet got him all better, he has lived another 10 yrs since, he's now 34, he's not sick this time he is old..I just don't want to watch him suffer

[Byebyebaby]

You lost your little friend.  There is NO pain like that.  He depended and relied on you for EVERYTHING.   You gave him EVERYTHING that he needed in his life!!!  Don't ever think that you didn't!  You did!  Birds don't "think" like we do.  Even if they "talk".  They live for the moment....and they can't think that their "human" did anything wrong for them.  

My mom died last month....but I felt worse when my 34 year old cockatiel died this year.  I know it sounds HORRIBLE....but my mom could TELL me how she felt...and my birdie could not.   Two different things.  I feel your pain.

[Katsquest66]

Mine is 34 and it's so hard seeing him get thinner and thinner, he can't fly, sometimes can't balance, seeds get stuck on his beak, I have made it where he can walk to anything in his cage,..I'm sad I have had my Dpikey since I was a 16 yr old girl

[Katsquest66]

Spikey